- November 3, 2025
Designing Medicines for a Sustainable Future: ASEAN Lecture Highlights Pharmacy’s Transformative Role
In celebration of ASEAN Month 2025, Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna’s (Mapúa MCL) Office for Strategic Partnerships and Global Engagement (OSPGE) hosted a thought-provoking ASEAN lecture on October 2, 2025, at the Global Classroom. The event featured Engr. Ronnel C. Garcia of the College of Arts and Science (CAS), who delivered an insightful talk titled “Think Pharmacy, Think Discovery: Designing Medicines for a Sustainable Future.”
Engr. Garcia’s lecture explored the evolving role of pharmacy as a driver of both health innovation and environmental stewardship. Framed around the question, “What if the medicines of tomorrow not only healed people, but also healed the planet?” the session challenged participants to rethink pharmaceutical development through the lens of sustainability, equity, and scientific advancement.
Engr. Garcia traced the evolution of medicine from ancient remedies to modern breakthroughs, emphasizing pharmacy’s foundational role in bridging chemistry, biology, and patient care. He challenged participants to confront the “triple challenge” facing today’s pharmaceutical landscape: scientific threats like antimicrobial resistance and emerging diseases, environmental concerns such as pollution and pharmaceutical waste, and societal issues around access and affordability. In response, he introduced the concept of Green Pharmacy, a paradigm that promotes biodegradable drugs, safer excipients, and eco-conscious manufacturing. Powered by emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), nanotechnology, and computational chemistry, this approach accelerates the shift toward faster, cheaper, and greener drug discovery.
Empowering the Next Generation
Engr. Garcia called attention to current gaps in pharmacy education, particularly around sustainability. He urged institutions to strengthen the innovation pipeline by embedding environmental and ethical considerations into curricula, preparing future pharmacists to lead in both health and planetary well-being.
The seminar reinforced Mapúa MCL’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG 4: Quality Education, and SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.
As Garcia concluded, “Think beyond the pill. Think impact. Think discovery for a sustainable future.” The message was clear: the next medicine we design could save lives and safeguard the planet.
